Setting up a new tank with fish from existing tank

[WiccaFish]

Hey guys,
I need advice on the best way to go about setting up my new tank. My old tank was bought second hand and is at the end of its second life. I bought a brand new tank and need advice as to how to go about making the switch. I have a sponge filter in the old tank that I'm going to place in the new tank for a bit before making the switch. It has a lot of good bacteria in it and I'll be keeping all the media in the canister filter when I make the switch also. Not sure if this is right or wrong but from things I've read online it says to try to keep as much good bacteria from the old tank as possible.
I would just love any step by step instructions from some of the experts in the forum. I have some pretty old fish and I would hate to lose them just because of a stupid mistake I made.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Are they both the same size? It looks like a 75g or maybe 55g.
I would fill the new tank, get the water up to temperature and transfer both filters to the new tank and run them while you drain the old tank amd catch the fish.
You basically have established filters with lots of BB, if you transfer the filters you should have no issues. Just make sure your water parameters are the same.

 

[WiccaFish]

Ok, that's what I thought. They are both 75 gallon. I filled the new one and have a small sponge filter running for now. I have an extra heater so I'll get that set up and warm up the tank. Should I transfer the live plants ahead of time or do that all at the same time when I transfer the fish? The plants aren't in the best shape right now but I'm hoping in the new tank I can focus more on bringing them back

 

[Gertrudae]

Transfer the plants first. It's also easier to catch the fish without the plants in the old tank. I would buy some more - Cryptocoryne are very hardy and comes in a lot of varieties.

 

[WiccaFish]

Yeah, I gotta buy a lot more. Realized the hard way that most of my plants do better glued onto driftwood, not shoved in gravel. I'm going to do some more research and buy some decent plants. I also struggle with lighting. I have a multitude of lights from a Fluval Aquasky to the Fluval Plant. I still have my old school florescent too. The Fluvals are great lights if you can get the right color adjustments. I can't. I've been fighting that awful rust colored algae ever since I got the lights. I may try going back to the good ole florescent. If you have any suggestions let LOVE to hear them

 

[raylove]

I wouldn't put the old sponge in the new tank early, as without the fish the bacteria in it will die from lack of food (i.e. the fish waste).

 

[GaryE]

I have done this many times. Plants first, then filters and fish as the same process. With equal water parameters and temperatures, it's like a big water change.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Yeah, I gotta buy a lot more. Realized the hard way that most of my plants do better glued onto driftwood, not shoved in gravel. I'm going to do some more research and buy some decent plants. I also struggle with lighting. I have a multitude of lights from a Fluval Aquasky to the Fluval Plant. I still have my old school florescent too. The Fluvals are great lights if you can get the right color adjustments. I can't. I've been fighting that awful rust colored algae ever since I got the lights. I may try going back to the good ole florescent. If you have any suggestions let LOVE to hear them

The rust/brown algae are diatoms, it's usually more of a new tank algae and usually it just disappears on its own.

 

[Gertrudae]

These algae also thrive under poor light conditions and when there are not enough plants.
I use a lot of different lights. Mostly cheap noname China LEDs. If your light ist programmable you should be able to find the right parameters online.